Former DA Calls Ethics Case re His Treatment of Women Unfair, Cites Loss of Job, Home and Bankruptcy

A former Wisconsin district attorney who made headlines due to his alleged sexually-charged treatment of several women in job-related situations is now facing eight legal ethics counts rather than the 11 initially filed against him.

But onetime Calumet County Dist. Atty. Ken Kratz says the entire case brought against him by the Office of Lawyer Regulation should be dismissed, citing a claimed conflict of interest and violation of his due-process rights, among other arguments, reports the Post-Crescent.

He also argues that four “offensive personality” counts are unconstitutionally vague.

The OLR is seeking a six-month suspension of Kratz’s law license as a three-day ethics hearing looms, scheduled to begin June 19 in Appleton.

Among other claimed conduct, he is accused of sending suggestive text messages to a crime victim while prosecuting her boyfriend.

However, Kratz points out in a filing that the OLR originally opted not to pursue a disciplinary case concerning his treatment of Stephanie Van Groll, arguing that its decision to reopen the matter was unfair to him.

He says he lost not only his job as a DA and reputation but his home and has filed for bankruptcy as a result of the accusations against him.

“This court is not just one of law, but of equity also,” wrote Kratz as he argued for dismissal of the entire case.